Method and apparatus for casting with revolving magnetic field controlling pouring

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for casting molten metal from a casting container having an outlet hole, comprises a batching container which is connected at the bottom of the casting container so that the outlet hole of the casting container is off-set from a vertical axis of the batching container towards the periphery thereof; the batching container is provided with means to generate a rotating electromagnetic field in a peripheral direction thereof to impart rotation to the metal in the batching container and to develop under the effect of centrifugal forces a counterpressure to the thrust of the metal coming into the batching container; casting of molten metal is effected from the central portion of the batching container, variation of the induction of the rotating electromagnetic field causing a variation of the rotation speed of the metal and, together with the latter, of the counterpressure to the thrust of the metal being supplied to said batching container, said counterpressure determining the batching of metal. The apparatus is characterized in that the batching container provided has an upper cover to close the container and form a chamber, the cover being provided with an entry aperture substantially near the periphery of the batching container and communicating with the outlet hole of a casting container; said cover of the batching container is also provided with a conduit for the exit of molten metal whose inlet opening is arranged in the central portion of the cover, while surrounding the batching container there is provided a means to generate a rotating magnetic field.

United States Patent [151 3,695,334 Khripkov et a1. [4 Oct. 3, 1972 [54]METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING WITH REVOLVING [57] ABSTRACT FIELDCONTROLLING An apparatus for casting molten metal from a casting [72]Inventors: Alexandr Vasilievich Khripkov, Lev

Borukhovich Shenderov, Igor Borisovich Kazarinov, all of Gorky,

V U.S.S.R. H 7 [73] Assignee: Gorkoysky Filial Tsentralnogonauchno-issledovatelskogo instituta metallurgii i Svarki, Gorky,U.S.S.R. [22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 90,520

[52] US. Cl. ..164/49, 164/147, 164/337, 222/1, 222/544 [51] Int. Cl...B22d 27/02 [58] Field of Search, ..164/49, 133, 147, 337, 335,

164/250, 251; 266/38; 222/DIG. 2, 15, l, 544

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,707,720 5/1955 Tama..266/38 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 742,328 11/1943 Germany..164/337 Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Attorney-Holman & Sterncontainer having an outlet hole, comprises a batching container which isconnected at the bottom of the casting container so that the outlet holeof the casting container is off-set from a vertical axis of the batchingcontainer towards the periphery thereof; the batching container isprovided with means to generate a rotating electromagnetic field in aperipheral direction thereof to impart rotation to the metal in thebatching container and to develop under the effect of centrifugal forcesa counterpressure to the thrust of the metal coming into the batchingcontainer; casting of molten metal is effected from the central portionof the batching container, variation of the induction of the rotatingelectromagnetic field causing a variation of the rotation speed of themetal and, together with the latter, of the counterpressure to thethrust of the metal being supplied to said batching container, saidcounterpressure determining the batching of metal. The apparatus ischaracterized in that the batching container provided has an upper coverto close the container and form a chamber, the cover being provided withan entry aperture substantially near the periphery of the batchingcontainer and communicating with the outlet hole of a casting container;said cover of the batching container is also provided with a conduit forthe exit of molten metal whose inlet opening is arranged in the centralportion of the cover, while surrounding the batching container there isprovided a means to generate a rotating magnetic field.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a method of casting metal from a container and to anapparatus for accomplishing said method.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART At present, most widely employed in themetallurgical production of non-ferrous and ferrous metals is a methodof casting metals and alloys from a casting container through arefractory nozzle disposed in the bottom of the casting container. Thebatching of metal in this case is effected with the aid of a stopperadapted to close fully or partly the hole of the casting nozzle, boththe stopper and the nozzle being of refracting materials.

Said known method suffers from a number of disadvantages, namely:

unreliability of the refractory material of the stopper, for, in thecourse of casting, the repeated closure of the stopper and resultingmechanical stresses, as well as chemical reactions and thermal stresses,result in the destruction of the refractory material of the stopperwhich, in turn, brings about the losses of metal and causes accidents;also an all-round automation of the casting process is impracticablewith such apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is todevelop a method of casting metal from a container and a device foraccomplishing said method, that would ensure trouble-free operation.

Another object of the invention is to develop a method of casting metalfrom a container and a device for accomplishing said method, that wouldprovide adequate conditions for an all-round automation of the castingprocess.

The present invention provides a novel method of casting molten metalfrom a casting container through an eccentric bottom-casting hole,wherein, according to thepresent invention, to the bottom of a castingcontainer there is connected a batching container so that the castinghole of the casting container is shifted from the vertical axis of thebatching container towards the periphery thereof, a winding means isprovided to generate a rotating electromagnetic field around thebatching container to impart rotation to the molten metal therein and todevelop under the effect of centrifugal forces a counterpressure to thegravitational thrust of metal being supplied to said batching containerfrom the casting container; the induction of the rotatingelectromagnetic field is varied, thereby, causing variation in the speedof rotation of the molten metal and the consequent variation in thecounterpressure to the thrust of metal being supplied to said container,said counter-pressure determining the batching of metal.

The apparatus of the invention expediently consists in a devicedesignated to accomplish the proposed method, comprising a castingcontainer with a bottom hole. According to the invention, in said deviceprovision is made of a closed batching container having in the upperportion of its cover a hole shifted from its vertical axis towards itsperiphery and communicating with the hole of the casting container, saidcover being also provided with a conduit for the exit of molten metalwhose inlet opening is located in the central portion of the cover,while surrounding the batching container there is arranged a means togenerate a rotating magnetic field.

As a result of the present invention, there has been developed a methodof casting metal from a container, and a device for accomplishing saidmethod, which provide a trouble-free operation when casting metal andhelp provide conditions for all-round automation of the casting process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be betterunderstood upon considering the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates in vertical section a device for castingmetal, embodying the present invention.

A casting container 1 filled with molten metal 2 is communicated by abottom hole 3 of a casting nozzle 4 with a hole 5 of a closed batchingcontainer 6, said 5 hole being shifted'towards the periphery withrespect to the axis [-1 of said batching container.

Arranged around the batching container 6 is a coil winding meanssupplied by an alternating current source, serving to generate arotating electromagnetic field which sets to rotation the molten metal 2in the batching container 6.

For the removal of metal from the batching container 6 to a mould 8, aconduit 10 having its inlet opening located at the center of the cover,on the axis I- I of the batching container 6 is provided in cover 9 ofthe batching container.

Prior to tapping the metal from a melting unit (not shown in thedrawing) into the casting container 1, the hole 3 is closed by anyconventional means, for example, by means of a stopper 1 l.

Casting and batching the metal is effected in the following manner.

After the casting container 1 has been placed above the mould 8, thehole 3 of the casting nozzle 4, which interconnects the castingcontainer 1 with the batching container 6, is kept open. Metal from thecasting container 1 is supplied via the aligned holes 3 and 5 to thebatching container 6 from which it is poured via the opening of theconduit 10 into the mould 8.

As the mould 8 is being filled, at the moment the consumption of metalshould be reduced or its flow discontinued, voltage is applied to thecoil winding means 7 to generate a rotating electromagnetic field whichsets the metal in the batching container 6-to rotation about thevertical axis.

Under the effect of centrifugal forces developed in the peripheral areasof the batching container 6, via the hole 3 there is created acounterpressure against the gravitational thrust of the metal 2 in thecasting container 1, under the effect of which counter-pressure themetal flow rate through the conduit 10 is reduced, or discontinued whenthe mould 8 is filled with metal.

The batching of metal is effected by varying the induction of therotating magnetic field, which results in a variation of the speed ofthe metal rotation and, consequently, of the counterpressure to thethrust of metal being supplied to the batching container 6.

If a low flow rate of metal is required, for example, when charging themoulds 8 manufactured from moulding materials liable to erosion under ahigh metallostatic pressure in the casting container 6, which might leadto the production of defective castings, the whole casting process iscarried out with the counterpressure developed by the rotating magneticfield.

After the mould 8 has been filled, the casting container l with themetal 2 is conveyed to a subsequent mould or (in case the castingcontainer is stationary) the mould is brought to the casting container,for example, using a conveyor.

The casting operation over, coil winding means 7 serving to generate therotating magnetic field is deenergized, while during the next castingthe operations are repeated as described hereinabove.

We claim: 1. A method of casting molten metal from a casting containerthrough a casting hole at the bottom of said casting container bycontrolling outflow of molten metal through said casting hole,comprising:

arranging a closed batching container below said casting container andproviding the batching container with an inlet hole substantially at aperiphery of the batching container, said inlet hole being aligned withsaid casting hole in a liquidtight manner for inflow of molten metalfrom said casting container into said batching container;

providing an outlet at substantially a central region of said batchingcontainer for controlled metal outflow therefrom to be cast into moulds;

causing a revolving magnetic field around a periphery of said batchingcontainer about a vertical axis thereof by a coil winding means disposedperipherally of said batching container so as to cause rotationalmovements in the molten metal in said batching container to result incentrifugal forces thereon which centrifugal forces prevent inflow ofmolten metal into said batching container through said inlet holethereof;

and interrupting said revolving magnetic field so as to stop thecentrifugal forces and admit metal inflow into said batching containerso as to cause a controlled metal outflow therefrom when it is desiredto pour metal into the moulds.

2. An apparatus for casting molten metal from a casting container andinterrupting metal outflow therefrom as desired, comprising:

a casting container adapted to hold molten metal and having a castinghole at the bottom thereof;

a closed batching container having a closed cavity about its verticalaxis an inlet hole at substantially a periphery of said batchingcontainer and aligned with said casting hole to form a liquid-tightpassage from said casting container to said batching container;

an outlet means providing an exit for molten metal from a regionsubstantially near the said vertical axis of the batching container, topour molten metal into casting moulds;

and means to generate a revolving magnetic field around said batchincontainer so as to induce rotational movemen of molten metal in thedirection of said revolving magnetic field, whereby, because ofcentrifugal forces developed in the molten metal which revolves, inflowof molten metal into the batching container is impeded and controlled,and with an increased strength of said revolving magnetic field and aresultant increased centrifugal force, said inflow of molten metal intothe batching container stops altogether, thereby stopping exit of moltenmetal from said outlet means.

1. A method of casting molten metal from a casting container through acasting hole at the bottom of said casting container by controllingoutflow of molten metal through said casting hole, comprising: arranginga closed batching container below said casting container and providingthe batching container with an inlet hole substantially at a peripheryof the batching container, said inlet hole being aligned with saidcasting hole in a liquid-tight manner for inflow of molten metal fromsaid casting container into said batching container; providing an outletat substantially a central region of said batching container forcontrolled metal outflow therefrom to be cast into moulds; causing arevolving magnetic field around a periphery of said batching containerabout a vertical axis thereof by a coil winding means disposedperipherally of said batching container so as to cause rotationalmovements in the molten metal in said batching container to result incentrifugal forces thereon which centrifugal forces prevent inflow ofmolten metal into said batching container through said inlet holethereof; and interrupting said revolving magnetic field so as to stopthe centrifugal forces and admit metal inflow into said batchingcontainer so as to cause a controlled metal outflow therefrom when it isdesired to pour metal into the moulds.
 2. An apparatus for castingmolten metal from a casting container and interrupting metal outflowtherefrom as desired, comprising: a casting container adapted to holdmolten metal and having a casting hole at the bottom thereof; a closedbatching container having a closed cavity about its vertical axis aninlet hole at substantially a periphery of said batching container andaligned with said casting hole to form a liquid-tight passage from saidcasting container to said batching container; an outlet means providingan exit for molten metal from a region substantially near the saidvertical axis of the batching container, to pour molten metal intocasting moulds; and means to generate a revolving magnetic field aroundsaid batching container so as to induce rotational movements of moltenmetal in the direction of said revolving magnetic field, whereby,because of centrifugal forces developed in the molten metal whichrevolves, inflow of molten metal into the batching container is impededand controlled, and with an increased strength of said revolvingmagnetic field and a resultant increased centrifugal force, said inflowof molten metal into the batching container stops altogether, therebystopping exit of molten metal from said outlet means.